Sliding roof for vehicles



W. H. BISHO F' SLIDING ROOF FOR VEHICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 14. 1950 u QvMwMMMUMnHHHMUnnII- K 1 n. wm om Ov mm o.

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Dec. 1, 1953 w. H. BISHOP SLIDING ROOF FOR VEHICLE'S 5 Sheets-Sheet 42 Filed Oct. 14, 1950 FIG.3.

.')wrwIo/L NMMM n Dec. 1, 1953 w. H. BISHOP SLIDING ROOF FOR VEHICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 14. 1950 FIG. 5

Patented Dec. 1, 1953 TE T O FFI CE SLIDING ROOF FOR VEHICLES William Henry Bishop, Birmingham, England Applicatonctober 14, 1950, Serial No. 190,118

6 Claims. l

Thisinvention relates Yto improvements in sliding-roofs for vehicles of thetype in which an opening in the front part of the root is adapted to be closed by a longitudinally slidable panel which when opened vslides under a -Xedcanopy over the rear rpartfof the` roof. Means operated by ahandle on the panel-are provided for locking the panellin the closed, open, and any deu sired intermediate position, and means `associated with the locking-mechanism are provided for raising the rear edge ofthe panel when closed to bring it into a position rlush with the rear canopy and for lowering it when it is desired to open the panel so that the panel can slide under the canopy. The panel is slidably` guided at each side on longitudinally extending flanges forming part of a watercheck frame extending around the opening below theflevel of the roof,A and theframe provides a continuous channelto receive any water which may find its way between `the panel and the roof, any such water-'being drained on through drain tubes connected to thewatercheck frame.

One of the objects of my invention isto reduce to a minimum the entry of water and dirtl between the sliding paneland the roof; and a-nother object is to facilitate the assembly` and maintenance ofthe sliding roof.

According to my invention the side edges of thel sliding panelfcarry upwardly and outwardly inclined or curved iieXible rubb'erfor other sealing strips which seat against andare adapted-to slide along underinwardly directed lipsorflanges on the roof at each side lof the opening.

At its front endl the panel is` conveniently formed with a forwardly extending inclined flange stepped down below the-level of the panel and adapted,` when the panel `is-closed, to engage under and make a seal with acomplementary rubber member secured to the underside of a rearwardly extending flange on'the roof'across the front ofthe opening.

At itsrear edge the panel has a downwardly stepped transverse channel'in which is -mounted a rubber bead, and when the-rearAedge-offthe roof is raised into. the closed and locked .position this bead is.:urged intoA sealing engagement with a seating on theunderside ofthe frontfpart of the xed rearcanopy.

Thus when the panelv is closed theV normal clearances between its edges and the adjacent edges of the roof around-.the openingV are substantiallysealedand the `entry ofiwater and` dirt is reduced toa minimum; The `panelwill therefore function satisfactorily forA much longer` periods without attention and there is veryl little risk of it being jammed or rendered stiffto Voperate.

According to a further feaure of my invention the slides for the front end ofthe panel which are guided on outwardly directed lips ornanges on the inner walls.v ofthe watercheck frame are pivotally mounted in brackets or lugs on the-.panel and when the panel is movedrearwardly to a position beyond 'its normal fully open vposition the slides come into alignment with notches'orlgaps in the guide anges; The front edge of the panel can then be lifted to bring the slides'up through the notchesabove the level 'ofrthegnide anges and the panel can be drawnforwardly until the rear slides come into alignment'with the notches, whereupon lthe panel can be lifted out. To replace the ypanel or 'toiit it originally these operations are simply carried-out in thefreverse order.

Thus the panel Ican be readily removed at any time for inspection, cleaning-or maintenance -of the panel or of the wate-rcheck frame or guides without having to remove-anyv screws or effect any other dismantling.

A practical form of sliding roof embodyingmy invention is lillustrated by way of example inl the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal section of the complete roof which has been divided into three for convenience of illustration, the central part'being shown above the front and lrearparts` Figure 2 4is a fragmentary transverse section through one of the front slides and the side member of the watercheck frame showing the panel in the normal raised position.

Figure 3 is a similar section through one rear slideand the adjacent parts showing the panel in the lowered position.

Figure 4 is a planof one rear corner of the sliding panel.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan showing the rear end of the stop for sliding panel.

The sliding roof illustrated follows generally the known construction of such roofs. The sheet rnetalvsliding'panel I0 is adapted to cover and uncover a longitudinal lopening in the front part of a vehicle roof Il. A watercheck frame l2 of channel section extends across the front and along each side of the opening and is continued rearwardly under-a nxed `canopy I3 vforming vthe rear part of the roof. An outwardly directed lip or flange I4 on the inner edge of the waterchecky frame formsaguidefor--the sliding panel atleach side of the openingfand theV frame carries on its inner surface a fibre tacking strip I5 for the attachment of the usual head lining for the roof.

The front end of the panel is guided at each side by means of a felt-lined slide I6 which engages the lip I4 on the watercheck frame as shown in Figure 2 and is pivotally mounted by means of a horizontal pin I1 in spaced lugs I8, I9 projecting downwardly from a reinforcing bracket spot-Welded or otherwise secured to the underside of the panel.

Each side edge of the panel is cranked down-4 wardly and inwardly to form an inclined step or rebate 2| to which is secured a flexible rubber or other sealing strip 22 which is retained in position by a curved sheet metal strip 23 secured to the rebate by rivets 24 passing through the sealing strip. The free upper part of the sealing strip is curved or inclined upwardly and outwardly and is adapted to engage against the underside of a lip or flange 25 extending inwardly from the edge of the roof opening. This lip or flange is conveniently formed as shown in Figure 2 by folding the edge of the roof sheeting over a horizontal inwardly extending flange on a metal strip 26 secured to and extending upwardly from the outer wall of the watercheck frame.

At its front end the panel is formed with a forwardly extending inclined ange 21 stepped down below the level of the panel and adapted, when the panel is closed as shown in Figure 1, to engage under and make a seal with a complementary rubber member 28 secured to the underside of a rearwardly extending flange 29 on the roof across the front of the opening.

Adjacent to the rear end of the panel on each side a bracket 30 secured to the underside of the panel has a downwardly extending flange 3| with an inwardly directed lip on its lower edge carrying a felt pad 32 adapted to slide in the watercheck frame below the guide flange I4. A felt or bre pad 33 is xed to the inner face of the flange 3| in alignment with the guide flange I4 to locate the panel against lateral displace- L ment.

The mechanism for raising the rear edge of the panel into a position flush with the canopy when the panel is closed is substantially the same as described in the specification of Patent No. 2,156,615. A rotatable handle 34 at the front end of the panel is arranged through linkage to move angularly a transverse bar 35 at the rear end of the panel.

Cranked arms 36 at the ends of the rod are in alignment when the panel is closed, with raised abutments 31 mounted in the watercheck frame, and the angular movement of the rod forces these arms against the abutments to raise the4 rear end of the panel vertically. The rear edge of the panel is provided with a downwardly stepped transverse channel 38 in which is mounted a hollow rubber bead 39, and when the panel is raised into the closed and locked position, as shown in Figure 1, this bead is urged into sealing engagement with a seating 40 on the underside of the front part of the xed rear canopy I3.

In the closed position of the panel the felt pads 32 are in alignment with and can move upwardly through gaps 4I cut in the guide flanges I4 of the watercheck frame as the rear edge of the panel is raised. When the handle is moved into the locked position with the panel in any intermediate position the arms 36 are urged against the bottom of the watercheck frame and urge the pad 32 upwardly against the guide flange I4 to hold the panel frictlonally in the set position.

The normal rearward opening movement of the panel is limited by a stop formed by an upstanding cranked portion 43 of a rod 44 extending longitudinally below the rear canopy I3 and concealed by the head lining. The front end of the rod is rotatably mounted in a cross-member 45 adjacent to the front of the rear canopy and terminates in a cranked nger-piece 46 which is accessible by inserting the finger between the cross-member and the canopy. The rear end of the rod is rotatably mounted in a bracket 41 on a cross-member 48 at the rear end of the roof, and the rod is loaded axially by a spring 49 to urge the rear end of the cranked portion 43 into engagement with a lug 50 on the bracket which holds the rod in each of two angular positions. Normally the rod is in the positions shown in Figure 1 with the cranked portion 43 extending vertically and forming a positive stop for the rear edge of the sliding panel.

When it is desired to remove the panel the rod is turned through to bring the cranked portion 43 into a horizontal plane so that the panel can slide rearwardly over it. This allows the panel to slide back far enough to bring the front slides I6 into alignment with the gaps 4I in the guide flanges I4 in the watercheck frame so that the front end of the panel can be lifted to bring the slides up through the gaps 4I above the level of the guide flanges, and the panel can then be drawn forwardly until the rear pads 32 come into alignment with the gaps whereupon the panel can be lifted out.

To replace the panel or to t it originally these operations are simply carried out in the reverse order.

If any Water should find its way into the watercheck frame it is drained away in the usual manner by drain tubes 5I arranged at the front and rear corners of the frame.

I claim:

1. A sliding roof of the kind set forth for vehicles comprising inwardly directed flanges on the roof at each side of the roof opening, flexible sealing strips including lower portions secured to the side edges of the sliding panel, and free upper portions which extend outwardly and upwardly beyond the top face of said panel when said panel is withdrawn from said opening, and which are bent so as to bear sealingly against the undersides of said flanges when said panel closes said opening.

2. A sliding roof of the kind set forth for vehicles comprising inwardly directed flanges on the roof at each side of the roof opening, downwardly cranked side edges on the sliding panel forming inclined rebates. flexible sealing strips secured with their lower portions against said rebates, and including free portions upwardly and outwardly extending from said rebates for sliding engagement with the undersides of said flanges.

3. A sliding roof of the kind set forth for vehicles as in claim 2 further comprising a water check frame extending along at least each side of said roof opening below said sliding panel, each of said flanges being' formed by a metal strip secured to and extending upwardly from the outer wall of the watercheck frame, a horizontal inwardly extending lip on the upper edge of said strip, and a, portion of the roof around the opening folded over said lip.

4. A sliding roof of the kind set forth for vehicles comprising inwardly directed flanges on the sides of the roof opening, upwardly and outwardly directed exible sealing members on the side edges of the sliding panel for sliding engagement with said anges, a water check frame extending along at least each side of said roof opening below said sliding panel, a slide pivotally mounted on each side of said panel adjacent to its front end and engaging slidably with a longitudinal guide ange on the watercheck frame, a gap in said guide flange adjacent to the rear end of the roof opening, and a movable stop for normally arresting the rearward movement of the panel before the slide reaches the gap, said stop being movable to permit the panel to be slid rearwardly beyond its normal open position to bring the slide into alignment with the gap so that the slide can be lifted through the gap and the panel can be readily detached from the roof.

5. A sliding roof as in claim 4 in which said stop comprises a cranked portion of an angularly movable rod extending longitudinally below the fixed rear canopy of the roof, and having on its 6 front end a nger-piece which is accessible from the inside oi' the vehicle, means being provided for locating said rod in its operative and inoperative positions.

6. A sliding roof as in claim 4 in which each of said slides is pivotally mounted in lugs on a reinforcing bracket secured to the underside of the sliding panel.

WILLIAM HENRY BISHOP.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

